Themiclesian invasion of Dzhungestan
| Themiclesian invasion of Dzhungestan | |||||||||
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| File:Монгольская конница на Халхин-Голе. Кадр 2.jpg Dzhungestani cavalrymen at an unidentified location | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Themiclesia | Dzhungestan | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Brig. Gen. Priak Tip | Gen. Togosemur | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
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East Expedition Force Capital Defence Force | Dzhungestani Army | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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12,240 soldiers 142 tanks | 9,720 soldiers | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 224 dead, 1,210 wounded | approx. 1,800 | ||||||||
The Themiclesian invasion of Dzhungestan began in May, 1927 and ended in October, 1934, with the initial objective of repelling Dzhungestani cavalry raids on copper mines adjoining the Dzhungestani-Themiclesian border. The war is known as the Prairie War (原之役, ngwyan-te-lek) in Themiclesia. The Themiclesian Army laid siege to, and subsequently took, the Dzhungestani capital city at Dörözamyn, occupying the city for five years. The Khan of Dzhungestan fled to Menghe. Themiclesia's suppression of Menghean sympathizers in 1932 triggered Menghe to send military reinforcements to Dzhungestan and restore the Khan to the throne. Menghean forces successfully expelled Themiclesian ones at the end of October, 1934.
First phase
In 1921, Khan Batzorig came to the throne and set out to modernize Dzhungestan, which was lacking in infrastructure, technology, and much natural resource. To secure copper, he secretly authorized a series of raids on copper veins, whose existence was known to Themiclesia but barely exploited. A small extraction facility existed on the border, in the County of Tsjings-'an (靖安), which was almost unmarked and unprotected. Captain Dodai led around 1,400 Dzhungestani cavalry, the country's most well-trained and equipped force, across the border in December, 1925 and easily overwhelmed the facility and its non-existent defences. Telegrams conveying distress signals were sent, but to no avail; by the time the Council of Correspondence responded, the settlement was fully under Dzhungestani control. The event generated much public anger in Themiclesia, as the Emperor Shljaps-tsung was still in his minority, meaning Themiclesia was assailed while unprepared.
Forced to respond, the Liberal government ordered the Army to repel the invasion and the Foreign Office to negotiate a treaty that prohibits Dzhungestani forces from entering Themiclesia. The Themiclesian mission in Dzhungestan presented a draft treaty to the Khan, who rejected it in January, 1926. Then, he held the diplomats under house arrest and prevented from sending and receiving telegrams. Regarding both incidents, Themiclesia protested in strong terms in the League of Nations, resulting in a condemnation but no action, since Dzhungestan was not a member-state of the League. In April 1926, an act of the Council of Protonotaries created the East Expedition Headquarters (征東府), and motorized infantry, cavalry, and Themiclesia's only armoured regiment were assigned to it. Brigadier-General Priak Tip was appointed to command this force. The Foreign Office delivered via the Tyrannian embassy an ultimatum demanding the release of its diplomats and the removal of Dzhungestani forces from Themiclesia, which the Khan rejected out-of-hand.
The following month, the government declared that "normal options have been exhausted" and ordered the EEHQ to engage the Dzhungestani forces in Tsjins-'an. It appears the Khan did not know Themiclesia had prepared a force to engage his, when the news of the Dzhungestani cavalry's rout reached him in July. The battle was contested in the sparsely-populated steppes on the border, with Themiclesian infantrymen using machine guns to attack the cavalry wings from the front and tanks opening fire on their flanks. The Themiclesian cavalry was ordered to give chase Dzhungestan's cavalry charge had been routed by gunfire, resulting in over 100 casualties. When they retreated across the border, Themiclesian forces did not pursue them. The news of the rout shocked the Khan, who thought Themiclesia would not expend anything to defend "a measly copper mine". The Khan ordered the withdrawal of his forces deep into the heartland.
Later that year, the Khan recovered from his shock and, under the advice of his ministers, came to think the area must have more valuable resources contained in it, to have provoked an "unusually dramatic" defence from Themiclesia. Indeed, the Khan's ministers presented tha Themiclesia was, in reality, defending diamond and gold ores. Themiclesia's minister to Dzhungestan presently undeceived the Khan, asserting that diamond ores only occur in volcanic rock, and there was no such formation in the area. That there was no gold-mining operation, in the era of the gold standard, also suggests an absence of gold in Tsjings-'an. The minister wrote to the Khan that Themiclesia desired nothing more than "reasonable treatment" of the border issue; the Khan then ordered his inkwell and desk confiscated and another, larger force amassed for re-taking Tsjings-'an.
Second phase
In the winter of 1926, Marshal Togosemur commanded 6,000 Dzhungestani cavalrymen plus a smaller number of infantrymen to cross the border again, which was eeriely quiet, since Themiclesia had ordered its forces withdrawn 500 miles from the border as a gesture of goodwill and encouragement for negotiation. On another level, adequate supply on the light rail line was also strenuous and may have contributed to the retreat. Togosemur's forces crossed into Themiclesia between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10 and retook both the mining operation and Tsjings-'an, which had a small town close to the mining operation.[1] Themiclesian scouts reported the incursion on Nov. 17, which sent the Foreign Office into panic, since it had expressly forbidden the EEHQ from setting foot on Dzhungestani territory, to avoid alarming other states.
The Secretary of State for War asked the Minister of the Left (foreign minister) what was to be done, if Themiclesia did not wish to be seen invading another country. The Foreign Office issued a public announcement of Dzhungestan's repeated invasion but failed to provoke the public into backing an invasion. It then consulted other powers that maintained relations with Dzhungestan. With the exception of Menghe, which expressed sympathy, other states did not initially endorse an invasion of Dzhungestan, citing factors such as investments that may be afflicted and the normal operation of consulates. Yet after the full situation was communicated to Anglia and Lechernt, Sieuxerr, Sylva, and Rajamaan Yhdysvallat, emphasizing Themiclesia's mission was imprisoned before any military action, Anglia and Lechernt's ambassador in Kien-k'ang advised the government that "no state could tolerate such a violation of diplomatic privilege", which the Foreign Office interpreted as endorsement.
Bolstered by international response, the EEHQ was reinforced in Feb., 1927 with two more infantry regiments and one armoured regiment and swiftly ordered to repel the invasion. The EEHQ engaged with Dzhungestani forces in April, in two battles. The first occurred on Apr. 9, in an uninhabited steppe field with very tall grass. The Dzhugnestani supply wagon, which travelled behind the cavalry but ahead of the infantry units, was traversing the north side of the field, as Themiclesian artillery started to fire into it. The cavalry rushed back, and the infantry was ordered to help evacuate the train, without which the Dzhungestani forces, poorly foraged, would not survive the terrain. As the cavalry rode in front of the infantry to counter-attack, Themiclesia pressed on with more machine gun fire and cavalry charges from the side when the gunfire stopped. The Dzhungestani infantrymen were occupied with burying their supplies and could not shoot due to their cavalry obstructing their lines of fire. They were led to believe Themiclesia was retreating, when they salvaged the remaining supplies and rode west; however, there the new armoured regiment re-started bombardment and shocked Togosemur's forces again. Though no record exists of casualties, it is estimated that Dzhungestan may have suffered more than 1,000 in this orchestrated battle.
Then, on Apr. 13, Marshal Togosemur, unable to recover his supplies, launched a daring nighttime attack on Themiclesian positions to obtain them. As they wished to attack with speed and stealth, the artillery was left behind along with much of the infantry's heavy weapons. Initially pushing the 103rd Infantry Regiment back, the 42nd Cavalry Wing attacked the Dzhungestani forces from their rear and split them into two groups. The 104th Infantry forced them wider apart, until they regrouped southwest of the Themiclesian fortification; however, this left their right flank totally open, and the two armoured regiments raced to open fire in that direction. This battle largely depleted Togosemur's infantry units and dealt a considerable blow to cavalry, but he was able to organize a retreat from a narrow road that Themiclesia's armoured regiments were unwilling to pass at night. Meanwhile, the newly-established Themiclesian Air Force (split from the League of Aviation Clubs) had finished paving a makeshift runway and started dropping bombs on Togosemur's reserves that were stationed closer to the border. Togosemur returned to Dzhungestan with less than half of what he arrived with.
Siege of Dörözamyn
The Themiclesian parliament declared war on Dzhungestan on May 2, given the encouraging results of the two battles in April. The beginning of the invasion was timed very precisely: Themiclesian vehicles crossed the border less than a minute after royal assent to the instrument was granted, before it was promulgated by the Council of Correspondence. With Togosemur's forces nowhere in sight, four motorized infantry regiments, three cavalry wings, and two armoured regiments rushed for Dörözamyn along a mud road. Encountering only scattered resistance, the invasion made historic headway, advancing over 50 km each day. The Tyrannian press called it the "antithesis of modern warfare", which then referred to the War of Sylvan Succession, characterized by the stagnation in the trenchs.
The Themiclesians encircled Dörözamyn on May 27, 1927. Artillery bombardment commenced the following day. On June 1, the Mayor of Dörözamyn offered to surrender to Brigadier General Tip, while asking for an immediate ceasefire. The Ministry of War received the instrument and accepted it two days later. Tip entered the city to find that Khan Batzriog was flown away by the Dzhungestani Air Force during the ceasefire, under the cover of night. It was discovered the city had been raising infantry regiments, having witnessed the ineffecacy of cavalry units against automatic gunfire and armoured units, but the invasion had outpaced their effort to arm and train recruits. Their formal training was not to begin until a few days after the city has fallen. Fearful of similar efforts elsewhere in the country, Tip diverted a third of his forces on sub-expeditions to the north to secure other cities.
Occupation of Dörözamyn
The occupation proceeded with the most order in the capital city. The invading Themiclesians were ordered not to station themselves within the limits of the city, but just beyond it. There were understood to be two reasons for this, that they wished to leave the city undisturbed and to be in a position to repulse loyalist troops, should they materialize. Tip read a statement by the Ministry of War apologizing to the citizenry of Dzhungestan for the "inconvenience and disruptions" they have occasioned by their presence on public radio. The Khan having fled, the Council elected to place his nephew Bartan in power. However, Bartan was only 16 years old, too young and seemingly lacking influence. Bartan himself, however, was eager to rule, and his inner circle conceived of the Themiclesian forces as a means to secure Bartan's position; as a result, Bartan publicly ordered all Dzhungestani forces to surrender. Rather than having the effect Bartan perhaps desired, this caused Dörözamyn to descend into chaos between his supporters and detractors.
Brigadier General Tip appealed to the Ministry of War to import the Capital Defence Force, which protected the embassies in Kien-k'ang, to perform the same function in Dörözamyn. The Ministry authorized this in August and sent three battalions of the CDF to Dörözamyn, where they took up defensive positions near embassies located there. The Foreign Office meant it as a gesture to show that Themiclesia wished to maintain Dzhungestan's independence by protecting its diplomatic corps. However, Bartan's enemies claimed that it indicated a desire to annex Dzhungestan utterly, since the CDF was nominally specific to domestic territory. To address local panic, Tip was ordered to present himself at Barten's court and prostrate deeply to the Khan. This made some Themiclesian soldiers unhappy, but they were strictly enjoined from speaking of it publicly. Locally, this was seen as a statement of Themiclesian support for Barten, which only deepened suspicion of Themiclesia's intentions with Bartan's opponents.
Capture of Yaamdargo
After Khan Barten surrendered, Dzhungestani loyalist forces rallied around Yaamdargo. However, due to Tip's previous decision to divert his forces, the East Expedition Force quickly discovered the loyalists, who were also still in training, around Yaamdargo. Togosemur, who led the initial invasion of Themiclesia, was directing activities there. Dzhungestani forces were more prepared this time, having dug defensive trenches around Yaamdargo. Unwilling to set up a siege, Colonel Yep, Tip's lieutenant, ordered his soldiers to dig tunnels under the trenches and attack from the defenders' rear. Noticing Themiclesian activity, Togosemur ordered his cavalry to raid the Themiclesian camp at night, inflicting considerable casualties. The Themiclesians' more modern weaponry were not effecaciously employed due to restrictive geography. About half of Themiclesian casualties sustained in the entire war occurred during the Battle of Yaamdargo.
Forced to abandon his tunnels, which heavily reduced mobility, he called for reinforcements from Tip's position. Tip found it increasingly difficult to maintain order in Dörözamyn and declined to send for reinforcements. Yep submitted to the Ministry of War and Cabinet Office for aerial assistance, which occurred in Jul. 1926. From the Kja-lan Airfield (居延升降場), the Themiclesian Air Force's East Branch, which was only recently renamed from the East Division of the Aviation League, dropped several hundred bombs in the vicinity of Yaamdargo, some directly hitting the trenches. As the aerial offensive was not co-ordinated, Yep missed several opportunities to attack remaining defensive positions immediately after bombing tossed them into disarray. Nevertheless, Yep attacked on Aug. 12, successfully capturing the trenches and Togosemur himself. Togosemur was immediately transported to Tip's encampment. After his depature, Yaamdargo quickly surrendered to Yep.
Price Affair
Having established control over the country's two largest cities, the EEHQ sought to reduce burdens on the supply line from Themiclesia by procuring locally. Tip asked for permission from both the Ministry of War and the Dzhungestani government to purchase on local markets; the Ministry of War responded that whatever purchase action must be done in the local currency, which was silver bullion. Though ostensibly meant to avoid disputes in currency exchange disputes, the Themiclesians also ran into pricing disputes with local suppliers. Allegedly, disgruntled merchants in the capital city agreed to charge Themiclesian procurers double the local price; when this was discovered, Tip ordered his soldiers to boycott collusive merchants. The merchants' association then posted a public complaint in the Themiclesian press that Tip was interfering with the free market in Dzhungestan. This achieved the opposite response they hoped, as Themiclesian economists argued that the collusive agreement was, in the first place, an act against the free market. The Dzhungestani government agreed to appoint a commission to establish "fair prices for bulk purchases" in the capital city.
Treaty negotiations
References
- ↑ Dates are uncertain due to lack of records